Southeast High football celebrates legacy of beloved ‘team mother’
Kathy Mobley lived what being a “Football Mom” means at Southeast High.
She was involved in the booster club. She worked in the concession stand. She helped husband Benny Sr. prepare pregame meals.
A longtime Manatee School District bus driver, she drove the Noles to some away games.
And she cheered for her Noles, too, of course.
“Not from the stands, either. Mom was down on the sidelines,” said daughter Ashley Mobley, a Southeast alum and assistant cheerleading coach. “She started when my big brother, Corey, went here (in the latter 1990s), then my baby brother, Benny Jr. (next decade), and was back out for her grandsons the past two seasons.
“Ours was a family affair. Football games will definitely be different without her.”
Mother’s Day, too.
“It’ll be tough,” said daughter Takiyah Shields, a Johnson K-8 School ISS teacher’s aide.
Kathy Mobley died on April 2. A beloved matriarch with 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, she was 65.
Among the family members, friends, co-workers and supporters paying their respects at the services was Paul Maechtle. Retired after 33 years as Southeast’s Hall of Fame head football coach and athletic director, he wore Noles’ blue and orange in her honor.
“Kathy was a great team mother,” Maechtle said. “Her efforts to support the Southeast Seminoles will not be forgotten.”
A Sarasota High alum, Kathy’s heart was big enough for other youngsters in the community, too, said Takiyah.
“As much as she loved Southeast, she would support any kid she felt needed it at other schools. But she’d always be on Southeast’s sidelines.
That devotion still means so much. Take it from Ashley, an ESE teacher’s aide whose son, Antonio, is a Noles’ freshman athlete continuing the family tradition.
“To be here at Southeast where Mom spent so much time is an honor. She would want us to continue, not mope around, have that time with the kids.”
Takiyah, whose son, Chauncey Kennon, was a Nole last year, did not attend Southeast, but Mom still “volunteered” her to work Noles’ games and she loved it.
“She had me doing concessions for football, basketball, fundraisers, anything. It’s not like she had to force me, either. I went to a small private school in Polk County, so I was taken by the school spirit and how you’d hear those drums miles away on game day. It was breathtaking.
“Being in the school district, a lot of her rubbed off on me.”
On Ashley, too.
“I feel her presence.”
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Congrats to Troop 22 Eagle Scouts Max Bennetts, Jake Burdette, Jake Clulow, Noah Disher and Charlie Landers.
Props to Manatee High girls lacrosse, unbeaten before bowing in regional finals. The 18-1 Hurricanes are Mallory Adams , Alexa Bernard , Cara Carter , Abby Clark , Luana Engel , Dari a n Ewing , Leighton Francis , Isabella French , Jasmine Hunsader , Grace Knowles , Sally Lehto, Jordan Moore , Lenie Nebra , Melodaysha Shelby, Zoe Stewart , Marley Suters, Daniella Waples, Gabrielle Waples and Anna Wompe. Coach Jeff McGuigan’s assistants are Matt Faul and Corey Hendricks.
Savannah Francis
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Big 4-0!
Amber Joy Kraus, too.
Big ups to Parrish Community High’s repeat district softball titlists. The defending state champs are Alex Call , Madelina Chapman , Baylee Fields , Kyndal France , Julia Girk , Lily Grimes , Alysa Jones , Jade Kruse , Sadie Kruse , Carsyn Kull , Hannah Lewis , Rylee Little , Morgan Maguire , Sophia Mandarine , Mackenzie Pandelo , Ella Romano , Sophia Thomas , Reagan Woodring and Isabella Yazzetti . Coach Erin Spivey’s assistants are Ali Yawn, Buddy Yawn and Nicholas Patella
Carol Beck is 39. Again.
Sharon Scarbrough, too.
And Janet Smith.
Congrats to Lakewood Ranch High’s district champion softball team. The Mustangs are Maddie Anderson , Payton Burdick , Daysi Clifton , Olivia Henderson , Erin Hogan , Leah James , Jenna May , Kendal McCoy , Lexi Meneely , Hana Pierce , Jersie Rohde , Grace Shaw-Rockey (7A District Player of the Year), Olivia Shephard , Corin Soria and Elli Wiegand. Coach Taylor Gould’s assistants are Stephanie Butera and Todd Lee.
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